Vibration isolated unitary cab and control console construction for a tractor

ABSTRACT

A tractor is provided with a unitary cab and control console construction which is secured to the tractor chassis by resilient mount assemblies which provide vibration isolation. The cab is disconnectible from the control console and during assemblage of the tractor, the control console may be mounted as a unit on the tractor chassis to provide controls for testing the working of and/or for moving the tractor before completing assembly of the tractor by adding the cab.

[is] 3,656,799 Apr. 18,1972

1/1969 Henriksson et FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [5 4] VIBRATIONISOLATED UNITARY CAB AND CONTROL CONSOLE CONSTRUCTION FOR A TRACTORInventors: I Great Bl'ltaln Y Christie, both of Cedar Falls; Claire Eu-P E Be H h gene Rojohn, Denver, all of Iowa xammerv AssistantExaminer-Leslie J. Papemer Attomey-H. Vincent l-larsha, Harold M. Knoth,William A. Murray and John M. Nolan [73] Assignee: Deere 8: Company,Moline, lll. 22 Filed: Apr. 14,1910

[2]] 'Appl. No.: 28,328

ABSTRACT A tractor is provided with a unitary cab and control consoleconstruction which is secured to the tractor chassis by resilient mountassemblies which provide vibration isolation. The cab is disconnectiblefrom the control console and durin blage of the tractor, the controlconsole may be men 8 assemnted as a unit on the tractor chassis toprovide controls for testi ng the [56} References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,438,672 4/1969 Gipp working of and/or for moving the tractorbefore completing assembly of the tractor by adding the cab.

PATENTEDAFR 18 I972 SHEET 10F 4 INVENTORS DONALD I. MALM CRAIG E.CHRISTIE CLAIRE E. ROJOHN PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3.656.799 SHEET 20F 4DONALD I. IALM CRAIG E. CI'RISTIE CLAIR; E. ROJOHN PATENTEmPRwsmz3.656.799 sum 3 OF 4 INVENTORS DONALD I. MALM CRAIG E. CHRISTIE CLAIREE. ROJOHN PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEET l 0F 4 FIG.7

FIG.5

FIG.4

INVENTORS DONALD I. MALM CRAIG E. CHRISTIE CLAIRE E. ROJOHN 1' cvrnnxrron ISOLATED unrrxnv CAB AND CON'I'ROL cousou: CONSTRUCTION son Amoron BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to atractor cab and control console which are vibration isolated from thetractor chassis and more particularly the invention relates to a unitarycab and control console or control platform which are secured to thetractor chassis by common resilient mount assemblies.

The trend in modern farm tractors hasbeen to increase their horsepowerso as to increase their speed and capacity to do work. In order that atractor operator will use a tractor to its capacity, it has been foundnecessary to provide an environment on the tractor which is free fromnoise, vibration, and objectionable atmospheric conditions. Theseenvironmentalconditions have been provided, in part, in the past bydesigns including suspended seats, enclosed cabs,'and resilient mountassemblies or connections for absorbing shocks transferred from thetractor chassis to the cab and controls. These designs, however, havelacked overall simplicityand judicious use ofthe resilient mountassemblies' Further, prior art designs. of vibration isolated cabs andcontrols have had the controls integrated'with the cab in a way whichrequired the cab and controls to be mounted and dismounted on thechassis as a unit, making it necessary to provide special controls foroperating the tractor when the cab and controls were removed, such asduring processing in the factory, loading for shipping and/or forservicing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided a tractor cab and control console which are vibration isolatedfrom the tractor chassis. 1

An object of the invention is to provide a cab and control console unitwhich is secured by common resilient mount assemblies to the tractorchassis.

Another object is to provide a cab which is detachable from the controlconsole and tractor chassis without disturbing the control console.

These and other objects will become apparent from the ensuingdescription and appended drawings.

1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective left'sideview of a tractor in which the present invention is embodied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the tractor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective fragmentary left side view of the controlconsole and its connection to the tractor chassis.

FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary rear view of the left side of thetractor showing the control console connecting bracket DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shownan agricultural tractor indicated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 10. The tractor includes a chassis or main frame 12 supported atits forward end by a pair of front wheels 14 and supported at itsrearward end by a pair of rear drive'wheels 16 which are mounted onaxles located in oppositely extending right and left axle housings 18and 20. Located at the rear end of the tractor cab is a conventionalthree-point hitch 22 and a drawbar 24 for selective connection toimplements.

The engine of the tractor 10 is partially shown, as at 26, and iscovered by hood 28 which extends rearwardly from the front of thetractor and terminates adjacent the forward portion of an operatorstation 30.

The operator station 30 includes a removable cab 32 including anenclosed portion 34, to the opposite lower outer sides of whichis'attached a pair of fenders 36 which extend about the top and forwardportions of the rear drive wheels 16. The enclosed portion 34 houses acontrol console or control island 38 which is located forwardly of aseat 40 mounted on the floor of the enclosed portion 34. As can best beseen in FIG. 3, the control console 38 carries, among other tractorcontrols (not shown), a steering assembly 42, a throttle lever 44, and atransmission speed and range shift lever 46. The control console 38includes a pair of connecting brackets 48, only one being shown, whichprojects downwardly at opposite sides of the chassis 12. The connectingbrackets 48 include right angular portions 50 having outer rearwardlyextending legs 52 and horizontal plates 54 are integral with the bottomsof the portions 50 and extend laterally therebeyond. V

Beneath the connecting brackets 48 are a pair of generally triangularsupporting brackets 55, only one being shown, including inner verticalplates 56 secured to the chassis 12 by bolts 58. The supporting brackets55 have horizontal legs 60 spaced vertically below the horizontal plates54 of the connecting brackets 48. Joining the connecting brackets 48 andthe supporting brackets 55 and providing vibration isolationtherebetween are a pair of resilient mount assemblies 62.

The pair of resilient mount assemblies 62 respectively include opposedupper and lower resilient bushings 64 and 66, respectively havingtubular metal inserts 68 and 70 bonded centrally therein. The upperbushings 64 have heads 72 overlying and skirts 74 received in dishedwasher-like sockets 76 supported on the legs 60 and the lower portions66 have heads 78 underlying and skirts 80 received in apertures 82 inthe legs 60. Received in the metal inserts thereof and holding the upperand lower bushings 64 and 66 in place on opposite sides of thehorizontal legs 60 of the supporting brackets 55 are bolts 84 whichextend downwardly through apertures in the horizontal plates 54 of theconnecting brackets 48, which bolts carry washers 86 that are held insupporting relationship to the lower'bushings 66 by nuts 88.

A pair of supporting brackets 90 are secured to the axle housings l8 and20 by U-bolts 92 and are respectively positioned in fore-and-aftalignment with the connecting and supporting brackets 48 and 55.

The cab 32 is supported on the tractor chassis l2 solely by the forwardand rearward pairs of supporting brackets 55 and 90, respectively, andto this end has a frame including a pair of laterally spacedfore-and-aft extending channel-like beams 94 underlying the enclosedportion 34 and extending between the connecting brackets 48 and therearward supporting brackets 90 atthe opposite sides of chassis 12. Theforward ends of the beams 94 are supported on the horizontal plates 54of the connecting brackets 48 and are secured to the connecting brackets48 by bolts 96. Joining the rear portions of the beams 94 to the rearsupport brackets 90 are resilient mount assemblies 98 which are similarin construction to the mount assemblies 62. Specifically, the mountassemblies 98 include opposed upper and lower resilient bushings 100 and102, respectively having tubular metal inserts 104 and 106 bondedcentrally therein. The upper bushings 100 have heads 108 overlyinghorizontal plate-like portions 110 of the brackets 90 and have skirts112 received in socket-like apertures 114 in the portions 110. The lowerbushings 102 have heads 116 underlying the portions 110 and have skirts118 received in the aperture 114. Received in the metal inserts thereofand holding the upper and lower bushings 100 and 102 in place onopposite sides of the portions 110 of the brackets 90 are bolts 120which extend downwardly through apertures in horizontally disposedflange portions 122 of the beams 94, which bolts carry washers 124 thatare held in supporting relationship to the lower bushings 102 by nuts126.

The webs 132 are apertured as at 134, and the apertures 134 arepositioned above threaded holes 136 in the portions 110 of the brackets90. Metal spacers 138 are received in the apertures 134 and have lengthsgreater than the thicknesses of the webs 132. Washers 140 and 142 are atthe tops and bottoms of the spacers 138 and are held in place by screws144 which are threaded into the holes 136. The washers 140 and 142 arepositioned so as to engage the webs 132 of the ears 128 and thus limitthe amount of vertical movement permitted by the resilient mountassemblies 98.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a notch 146 in the control'console38 which notch is dimensioned to permit vertical movements of thecontrol console relative to a support 148 for the hood 28. Also, it isto be noted that the tractor controls carried by the control console 38each have linkages (not shown) permitting limited vertical movement ofthe control console 38 relative to the chassis 12.

Thus, from the foregoing description 'it is apparent that vibrationisolation is provided for the cab 32 and control console 38 as a unitand such vibration isolation is provided solely by the forward andrearward pairs of resilient mount assemblies 62 and 98.

Further, the sole connection between the cab 32 and the control console38 is through the connecting brackets 48 to and from which the cab canbe easily connected and disconnected. This permits the control console38 to be mounted on the tractor without the cab so as to provide controlfor the tractor during assembly of the tractor and for testing theworking parts thereof and/or for moving the tractor from place to place.

We claim 1. In a tractor having arigid main frame including aforeand-aft extending portion supporting an engine'and a hood overlyingthe engine, and including a pair of rearward transversely extending axlehousings projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the main frame, theimprovement comprising: a cab disposed generally above a rearwardportion of the main frame; a seat mounted within the cab; a generallyupright con-- trol console disposed forwardly of the seat and rearwardlyof the engine and hood and carrying manually actuatable controlelements, the cab and control console being connected to form a closedoperators station; a first pair of mounting brackets respectivelymounted on opposite sides of the main frame rearwardly of the engine; afirst pair of resilient mounting means connecting the control,console-tothe first pair of mounting brackets; a second pair of mounting bracketsrespectively attached to the opposite axle housing; and a second pair ofresilient mounting means connecting the cab to the's econd pair mountingbrackets, the first and second pairs of mounting means forming aresilient mount for the entire operators station to isolate theoperators station from the main 1 frame.

2. In a tractor including a chassis, the improvement comprising: a pairof generally fore-and-aft aligned support brackets secured to saidchassis at respective locations to one side of the fore-and-aftcenterline of said chassis and a second pair of generally fore-and-aftaligned support brackets secured to said chassis at respective locationson the opposite side of said centerline from said first pair ofbrackets; a cab including 'a pair of laterally spaced fore-and-aftextending frame members; a control console detachably secured to theforward ends of said fore-and-aft extending frame members to form aunitary assembly; and a resilient connection means for securing saidassembly to said support brackets for isolating said assembly fromchassis vibration, said control console being secured by said connectionmeans to the foremost of said support brackets and said frame membersbeing secured adjacent their rear ends by said connection means to therearmost of said support brackets.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said control consoleincludes a pair of connecting brackets extending downwardly at oppositesides of said chassis above said foremost support brackets and includinghorizontal plate members at the bottoms thereof; and said frame membersbeing supported on said horizontal plate members and being detachablysecured to said connecting members.

4. In a tractor having a chassis including a pair of rearward "laterallyextending axle housings, the improvement comprising: a rearward pair ofsupport brackets-respectively secured to the rear axle housings; aforward pair of support brackets secured to the chassis on oppositesides of the fore-and-aft centerline of the chassis; a cab including apair of laterally spaced fore-and-aft extending frame members; a controlconsole detachably secured to said frame members to form a unitaryassembly; and resilient connection means securing said assembly to saidsupport brackets for isolating said assembly from chassis vibration, thecontrol console being secured by said connection means to the foremostof said brackets and the cab frame members being secured by saidconnection meansto the rearmost of said brackets. I

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said control consoleincludes a pair of connecting brackets extending downwardly at oppositesides of said chassis above said foremost support brackets and includinghorizontal plate members at the bottoms thereof; and said frame membersbeing supported on said horizontal plate members and being detachablysecured to said connecting brackets.

6. In a tractor having a main frame directly and nonresilientlysupported on a plurality of ground-engaging wheels,

the improvement comprising: a tractor cab including a floor; a

. resilient mounting, means connecting the control console to the mainframe; and a pair of rearward transversely spaced resilient mountingmeans connecting the cab to the main frame, the entire operators stationbeing suspended from the main frame by said forward and rearward pairsof resilient mounting means to isolate the operator's station fromvibrations in the main frame.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the control console isremovably connected to the cab and independently mountable on the mainframe via the forward pair of resilient mounting means.

8. In a tractor having a rigid main frame including a foreand-aftextending portion and a pair of axle housings extending transversely inopposite directions from a rearward portion of the fore-and-aftextending portion and journalling rear axles directly connected toground-engaging rear wheels, and a fore-and-aft extending engine mountedon the fore-and-aft extending portion of the main frame and covered by aforeand-aft extending hood, the improvement comprising: an operator'sstation including a cab disposed generally above the rear portion of themain frame, a seat mounted within the cab, and a generally, uprightcontrol console disposed forwardiy of the seat and rearwardly of theengine and hood and carrying tractor control actuating means; a firstresilient mounting means connecting the controlconsole to the mainframe; and a second resilient means connecting the cab to the mainframe.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein the control console isremovably secured to the cab, at least two of the mounting meansconnecting the control console to the foreand-aft portion of the mainframe and at least two other mounting means connecting the cab to theopposite axle housrngs.

10. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein each mounting meansincludes a bracket attached to the main frame and having a horizontalplate-like portion, a member attached to the operators station andhaving a horizontal lower surface, and'a resilient element interposedbetween the lower surface of said member and the horizontal portion ofthe bracket.

11. In a tractor including a chassis, a cab, and a control console, theimprovement comprising: first mounting means including first resilientmeans directly securing said control console to said chassis; and secondmounting means including second resilient means directly securing saidcab to said chassis thereby isolating said control console and cab fromchassis vibration.

12. The invention defined in claim 11 and further including fasteningmeans detachably securing said cab to said control console to form aunit. I

13. The invention defined in claim '12 wherein said cab includes a pairof laterally-spaced fore-and-aft extending frame members securedadjacent their rear ends by said second mounting means to the chassis,and detachably secured adjacent their forward ends to said controlconsole.

14. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said control consoleincludes a pair of connecting brackets extending downwardly at oppositesides thereof above said first pair of support brackets and includinghorizontal plate members at the bottoms thereof; and said frame membersbeing supported on said horizontal plate members and being detachablysecured to said connecting brackets.

15. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said first mounting meansincludes a first pair of support brackets secured to the chassis atlaterally-spaced locations on opposite sides of the control console andconnection means, including said first resilient means, securing each ofsaid first support brackets to said control console.

16. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein said control consoleincludes a pair of connecting brackets at the opposite sides thereof,the connecting brackets each including a horizontal plate memberoverlying a respective one of said first pair of support brackets andconnection means including said first resilient means interconnectingsaid pair of support brackets and said horizontal plate member.

17. The invention defined in claim 15 wherein the chassis includes apair of rear axle housings; said second mounting means including asecond pair of support brackets respectively secured to said axlehousings.

18. The invention defined in claim 17 and further including fasteningmeans detachably securing said cab to said control console to form aunit.

19. The invention defined in claim 18 wherein said cab includes apair-of laterally-spaced fore-and-aft extending frame members havingrear ends extending above said second pair of mounting brackets andsecured thereto by connection means including said second resilientmeans, and detachably secured adjacent their forward ends to saidcontrol console.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 5799 Dated 18 Ap il 97 In t (s) Donald Irwin Malm, Craig Eugene Christieand Claire Eugene Rojohn I It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 52, after "pair insert of --3 line 5H, change "operators"(both occ.) to operators line 57, before "pair" insert first Signed andsealed this 13th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHA'LK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-IOSO (IO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

1. In a tractor having a rigid main frame including a fore-andaftextending portion supporting an engine and a hood overlying the engine,and including a pair of rearward transversely extending axle housingsprojecting outwardly from opposite sides of the main frame, theimprovement comprising: a cab disposed generally above a rearwardportion of the main frame; a seat mounted within the cab; a generallyupright control console disposed forwardly of the seat and rearwardly ofthe engine and hood and carrying manually actuatable control elements,the cab and control console being connected to form a closed operator''sstation; a first pair of mounting brackets respectively mounted onopposite sides of the main frame rearwardly of the engine; a first pairof resilient mounting means connecting the control console to the firstpair of mounting brackets; a second pair of mounting bracketsrespectively attached to the opposite axle housing; and a second pair ofresilient mounting means connecting the cab to the second pair mountingbrackets, the first and second pairs of mounting means forming aresilient mount for the entire operators station to isoLate theoperators station from the main frame.
 2. In a tractor including achassis, the improvement comprising: a first pair of generallyfore-and-aft aligned support brackets secured to said chassis atrespective locations to one side of the fore-and-aft centerline of saidchassis and a second pair of generally fore-and-aft aligned supportbrackets secured to said chassis at respective locations on the oppositeside of said centerline from said first pair of brackets; a cabincluding a pair of laterally spaced fore-and-aft extending framemembers; a control console detachably secured to the forward ends ofsaid fore-and-aft extending frame members to form a unitary assembly;and a resilient connection means for securing said assembly to saidsupport brackets for isolating said assembly from chassis vibration,said control console being secured by said connection means to theforemost of said support brackets and said frame members being securedadjacent their rear ends by said connection means to the rearmost ofsaid support brackets.
 3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein saidcontrol console includes a pair of connecting brackets extendingdownwardly at opposite sides of said chassis above said foremost supportbrackets and including horizontal plate members at the bottoms thereof;and said frame members being supported on said horizontal plate membersand being detachably secured to said connecting members.
 4. In a tractorhaving a chassis including a pair of rearward laterally extending axlehousings, the improvement comprising: a rearward pair of supportbrackets respectively secured to the rear axle housings; a forward pairof support brackets secured to the chassis on opposite sides of thefore-and-aft centerline of the chassis; a cab including a pair oflaterally spaced fore-and-aft extending frame members; a control consoledetachably secured to said frame members to form a unitary assembly; andresilient connection means securing said assembly to said supportbrackets for isolating said assembly from chassis vibration, the controlconsole being secured by said connection means to the foremost of saidbrackets and the cab frame members being secured by said connectionmeans to the rearmost of said brackets.
 5. The invention defined inclaim 4 wherein said control console includes a pair of connectingbrackets extending downwardly at opposite sides of said chassis abovesaid foremost support brackets and including horizontal plate members atthe bottoms thereof; and said frame members being supported on saidhorizontal plate members and being detachably secured to said connectingbrackets.
 6. In a tractor having a main frame directly andnonresiliently supported on a plurality of ground-engaging wheels, theimprovement comprising: a tractor cab including a floor; a seat mountedon the floor within the cab, and a control console connected to the caband disposed forwardly of the seat, the cab and the control consoleforming a unitized, enclosed operator station; a pair of forward,transversely spaced resilient mounting means connecting the controlconsole to the main frame; and a pair of rearward transversely spacedresilient mounting means connecting the cab to the main frame, theentire operator''s station being suspended from the main frame by saidforward and rearward pairs of resilient mounting means to isolate theoperator''s station from vibrations in the main frame.
 7. The inventiondefined in claim 6 wherein the control console is removably connected tothe cab and independently mountable on the main frame via the forwardpair of resilient mounting means.
 8. In a tractor having a rigid mainframe including a fore-and-aft extending portion and a pair of axlehousings extending transversely in opposite directions from a rearwardportion of the fore-and-aft extending portion and journalling rear axlesdirectly connected to ground-engaging rear wheels, and a fore-and-aftextending engine mounted on the fore-and-aft extending portion of themAin frame and covered by a fore-and-aft extending hood, the improvementcomprising: an operator''s station including a cab disposed generallyabove the rear portion of the main frame, a seat mounted within the cab,and a generally upright control console disposed forwardly of the seatand rearwardly of the engine and hood and carrying tractor controlactuating means; a first resilient mounting means connecting the controlconsole to the main frame; and a second resilient means connecting thecab to the main frame.
 9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein thecontrol console is removably secured to the cab, at least two of themounting means connecting the control console to the fore-and-aftportion of the main frame and at least two other mounting meansconnecting the cab to the opposite axle housings.
 10. The inventiondefined in claim 8 wherein each mounting means includes a bracketattached to the main frame and having a horizontal plate-like portion, amember attached to the operator''s station and having a horizontal lowersurface, and a resilient element interposed between the lower surface ofsaid member and the horizontal portion of the bracket.
 11. In a tractorincluding a chassis, a cab, and a control console, the improvementcomprising: first mounting means including first resilient meansdirectly securing said control console to said chassis; and secondmounting means including second resilient means directly securing saidcab to said chassis thereby isolating said control console and cab fromchassis vibration.
 12. The invention defined in claim 11 and furtherincluding fastening means detachably securing said cab to said controlconsole to form a unit.
 13. The invention defined in claim 12 whereinsaid cab includes a pair of laterally-spaced fore-and-aft extendingframe members secured adjacent their rear ends by said second mountingmeans to the chassis, and detachably secured adjacent their forward endsto said control console.
 14. The invention defined in claim 13 whereinsaid control console includes a pair of connecting brackets extendingdownwardly at opposite sides thereof above said first pair of supportbrackets and including horizontal plate members at the bottoms thereof;and said frame members being supported on said horizontal plate membersand being detachably secured to said connecting brackets.
 15. Theinvention defined in claim 11 wherein said first mounting means includesa first pair of support brackets secured to the chassis atlaterally-spaced locations on opposite sides of the control console andconnection means, including said first resilient means, securing each ofsaid first support brackets to said control console.
 16. The inventiondefined in claim 15 wherein said control console includes a pair ofconnecting brackets at the opposite sides thereof, the connectingbrackets each including a horizontal plate member overlying a respectiveone of said first pair of support brackets and connection meansincluding said first resilient means interconnecting said pair ofsupport brackets and said horizontal plate member.
 17. The inventiondefined in claim 15 wherein the chassis includes a pair of rear axlehousings; said second mounting means including a second pair of supportbrackets respectively secured to said axle housings.
 18. The inventiondefined in claim 17 and further including fastening means detachablysecuring said cab to said control console to form a unit.
 19. Theinvention defined in claim 18 wherein said cab includes a pair oflaterally-spaced fore-and-aft extending frame members having rear endsextending above said second pair of mounting brackets and securedthereto by connection means including said second resilient means, anddetachably secured adjacent their forward ends to said control console.